Adhesive sheeting and masking for painting



Jan. 31, 1933. R. G. DREW 1,895,978

ADHESIVE SHEETING AND MASKING FOR PAINTING Filed March 7, 1931 {Sheets-Sheet l ADHESIVE COATING. FRE'JIZE CHEESE cLon/ JPHAL run 9 PER Jan. 31, 1933. R. G. DREW ADHESIVE SHEETING AND MASKING FOR PAINTING Filed March '7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1833 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD GUmY DREW, 01 8'1. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO MINNESOTA MINING A: IANUIAO'IUBJ'NG COMPANY, OF 8'1.

Application filed March 7,

While the invention has a broad field of usefulness, I have found it of peculiar utility for producing an adhesive coating for limiting the application of the spray of liquid finishing material, such as, for example, lacquers in automobile body paint shops, and I therefore find it convenient to describe the invention in connection with such practice and product, itbeing understood, however, that such limited fields of specific description areemployed purely for purposes of illustration of an example of the utility of the invention in its several phases. I

In the work referred to, my improved material may be used as an adhesive for holding protective paper aprons against surfaces on which it is not desired to apply the lacquer spray, such for example, as glass windows, upholstery, rubber mats on running boards, bright metal parts, and the like.

My improved material may also be applied directly to a surface which is later on to be finished by an application of the lacquer spray or by painting, or to a surface which has been finished, in order to prevent mingling of the colors, as for example, in twocolor work.

My improved material may further be applied to paper or other suitable backing, in the form of tape or such other form as may be appropriate for the purpose contemplate It is to be observed that in finishing automobile bodies with lacquers of a plurality of colors, difiiculties are found in limiting the application of the colors, owing to diffusion of the spra- In order to attain a clear and clean cut inc or demarcation between the several colors, adhesive tapes have been used. These are of two general types, of which the so-called zinc-oxide tape is an example of one PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION 01' ADHESIVE SHEETING AND IASKING FOB PAINTING 1981. Serial No. 520,988.

type, using a cloth backing, and the ordinary gummed-paper tape is an example of the other type.

Both types of tape referred to present certam marked objections, among which may be noted that the zinc-oxide tape isnot watersoluble and when it is removed, a residue remains whlch has to be cleared away by some e rpensive solvent, such as, for example, benzine, gasoline, alcohol or the like, and the ordinary gummed paper tape adheres so tenaciously to the surface to which it is ap plied that it is necessary either to soak it in warm water, which involves delay, or to scrape it off with a sharp instrument, which tends to mar the underlying surface. If such underlyln surface has been lacquered or painted, t e danger of marring is obvious. Furthermore, in the case of the tapes referred to, it frequently happens that in pulling away the tape from the object to which it has been applied, patches of the lacquer or paint coat w ll be l fted from the surface and come away with the tape. Again it frequently happens that these known tapes curl and-become tangled in application and therefore diflicult to manage and to apply accurately. Similarly, if not correctly applied in the first instance, they often cannot be removed and reapplied 1n the desired location as they are ruined for such purpose by removal. Likewise, they are often so energetic in their adherent action that the treated coat must be allowed to set and become firm before the tape is applied thereto. In the cases of certain materials, such as leather and glass, the known tapes are objectionable either in that they will not readily adhere thereto; or if they are forced by pressure and time elements so to do, they are not readily cleaned therefrom, tending, in the case of leather, to enter into the pores thereof, and in the case of glass, to become diffused thereover, both of which adds to the cost of the operation or detracts from the results produced. It is known to those -who are skilled in the art that both zincoxide cloth tape and gummed paper tape tend to deteriorate by the la se of time owing to the drying out of-the a hesive material, and

consequent loss of its power to adhere to the ob'ect to which it is applied.

Ihe principal objects of my present invention therefore, are the provision of an adhesive or coating which is non-drying; the rovision of an adhesive or coating whic is water-soluble; the provision of adhesive or coatin which is mild in its action; the provision 0% an adhesive or coating which may be applied to a lacquered, painted or varnished surface without injury-t iereto; the provision of an adhesive or coating that when applied to a lacquered, varnished or painted surface may be removed therefrom without injury thereto the provision of an adhesive or coating that may be applied to leather or other porous material without infiltration thereinto; the provision of an adhesive or coating that may be ap lied to glass without diffusion thereon; tie provision of an adherent coated backing having one or more of the foregoing characteristics; the provision of an adherent coated backing which is noncurling; the provision of an adherent coated backing which may be applied to an object, removed therefrom and reapplied Without injury to the object or to itself; the provision of an adherent treated coating in which any residuum on removal is readily soluble in water the provision of an adherent treated coating which is highly flexible and adapts itself to curved contours of the object to which it is applied; the provision of a new composition of matter for the purposes referred to; the provision of an improved method for together with certain other objects which will hereinafter appear or be pointed out.

In attaining the foregoing objects and certain additional benefits and advantages to be below disclosed, I have provided an improved adhesive or coating which, as above suggested, may be applied either as a spotting for protective paper aprons, may be applied directly to the object, or may be embodied in an article, such as a tape, which not only avoids the disadvantages and objections incident to the use of zinc-oxide cloth tape and ordinary gummed paper tape, but combines their advantages and exhibits a number of additional marked advantages peculiar to itself.

Among these maybe remarked that it will W firmly adhere to the widest range of materials, and do so indefinitely that after it has served its purpose it may be pulled away without soaking or scraping and without lifting or injurin the underlying coat; and that after remova any slight residuum may be removed from the object to which it has been applied by water at ordinary temperatures, quickly, safely and efiicaciously.

As an example of its usefulness, it* may be noted that in connection with the finishing of an automobile body in two colors by means of producing the said composition,-

eonora lacquer s rays, as soon as one lacquer color is applie the tape may be applied up to the line where the color is to be changed, and then the other lacquer color applied. As soon as this last operation is completed, the improved tape may be ripped off withoutharming the underlying lacquer, since the adhesive does not become sufliciently hard to so cement itself in position to cause that highly undesirable action. Should the tape happen to be misapplied and not properly located adjacent the line desired for color change, it can be readily removed and a second or even third attempt made until the exact boundary line desired is accurately established, and it is easily so applied inasmuch as it does not curl though it is extremely flexible and accommodates itself to curved contours. Because of its mildness in action, it may be promptly applied to a finished surface, and removed therefrom, and any residuum cleaned off by a s onge, without fear of injury to the finis ed surface. Furthermore, it requires no s tion for use, and as it remains resh inde ite-. ly no special care has to be taken to insure the use of fresh supplies.

Theinvention further contemplates the provision of an apron and adhesive tape therefor, as more particularly disclosed in m application for patent, S. N. 182,893, aforementioned in the form of a sheeted material having a paper base, surface treated or saturated with a glue or gelatine base composition, further treated in accordance with saidapplication to make the surface thereof substantially non-adherent, whereby an adhesive, non-drying coating may be applied thereto, such as a. gelatine or glue base adhesive, described in my prior application, S. N. 46,492, now Patent No. 1,856,986 or a Water hesive non-drying coating, such as zinc-oxide adhesive or rubber base adhesive, described in my application S. N. 182,893, to provide material capable of being stacked, piled or rolled,

without the use of intermediate slip sheeting.

- In the. preparation of the adhesive or coating according to the present preferred practice, batches are formed which by weight contain the following ingredients, viz:

Part I Pounds Hide glue of high quality 100 ater 100 The glue is soaked in the water until it swells,

and then the mass is dissolved by heat in a steam jacketed kettle.

Part I I Pounds ecial pre arainsoluble adi assume Part III Pounun Calcium chloride (commercial 75% pure) 37 5 Water 37 The calcium chloride is dissolved in the water, and Part III is then added to the combination of Parts I and II and thoroughly commingled therewith.

Part I V Beta naphthal in alcohol 1% solution) 1/ 125 part. Part IV is then added to the combination of Parts I, II and III.

Briefly stated, the functions of the several elements in the foregoing'composition are as follows: lycerine is added to the adhesive glue for t e purpose of imparting flexibility thereto'and maintaining such flexibility; calcium chloride is added because of its hygroscopic qualities in order to prevent the adhesive from drying out, it having been found that normally such addition will preserve the desired degree of adhesiveness under ordinary conditions of temperature and humidity and the beta naphthal solution in alcohol is added as a precautionary disinfectant to inan arbitrary body, limiting the amount of hibit the growth of mould or other fouling.

For certain purposes, such as the cmbination of high temperature and high humidity conditions, I find it at times desirable to add a small .percenta e of alum, (e. g. .5% to 1% of alum on the dry glue, by weight) which tends to coagulate the glue and impart to it water absorbed from the atmosphere, and thereby avoiding any undue or excessive amount of stickiness in the resultant product.

When embodying my present invention in the form of a tape, I preferably pro-size the cellulose or paper backing on the surface to which the coating or adhesive is to be applied, in order to limit the penetration thereof and thereby economize in the amount of such coating required for the production of a given quantity of tape. My preferred material for such pre-sizing is a ten per cent (10%) solution of hide glue in water.

For certain special purposes, such as more closely determining the amount of penetration and retarding the penetration of moisture in the paper backing, to prevent breaking down of the paper backing, or of making a stronger tape, or both, I have employed other methods of preparing the tape which I will now proceed to describe.

In the case of a 30# sheet, I apply a thin coating of asphaltum, and before the asphaltum coat has set a thin tissue sheet of say 12# stock is appliedto the asphaltum coat, thus making a three-ply laminated structure. M improved coating or adhesive is then applied to the tissue paper and obviously can penetrate no further than to the asphaltum coating.

Again, I have a plled to a 30.11: sheet, a thin coating of asp altum and before the asphaltum has set, further applied to the asphaltum coated surface a sheet of reticulated fabric, such as is analogous to mosquito nettin or a loosely woven cheese-cloth.

1%1 the latter case, the product is not only materially strengthened, but the need of using anything in the nature of a slip-sheet to prevent the tape from adhering together as 1t is wound into coils, is obviated.

To attain the above objects or such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accomanying drawings for purposes of illustrat- 1n the structure above described, in which igures 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of different embodiments o the tape.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the combined tape and apron.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a paper apron including a spotting of the adhesive.

Figure 6 is a detailed cross section on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Making reference to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates theembodiment above described in which a paper base 10 has coated thereon a presize layer 11, to which is applied a coating of the adhesive material 12. These parts are properly legended in the drawings and require no further description.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 and referred to above, a sheet of paper 13, such as a thirty pound sheet, has applied thereto a thin coating of asphaltum, 14, upon which there is set a thin tissue sheet of twelve pound stock, to make a three-ply laminated structure. Upon this last coating, I apply my improved coating or adhesive 16, which obviously can penetrate no further than to the asphaltum coating. The separate layers are shown overlapping for purposes of illustration.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a

sheet of pa er such as thirty pound stock, 17,

has apphe thereto a thin coating of asphaltum 18 and before the asphaltum has set, this has further applied a sheet of reticulated fabric 19, such as is analogous to mosquito netting or loosely woven cheese cloth. The adhesive may be applied to the cheese cloth surface or where the material is to be wound into coils and it is desired to avoid the use of netting in the nature of a slip-sheet, the adhesive coating 20 may be applied to the surface of the paper thus remaining, in which the adhesive coating can penetrate no further than to the asphaltum coating and the strengthening effect obtained by the cheese cloth also serves to act in the nature of a slip-sheet.

In its preferred form, my invention is embodied in a sheeted material in the nature of tape 21, of a paper base with the glue gelatine base and coated on one face with a non-* drying adhesive 22 (see Figure 4 of the character described in either my rior application, S. N. 46,492, now Patent 0. 1,856,986 or S. N. 182,893, which includes an adhesive non-dryin coating such as gelatine or glue base adhesive, which are water soluble, or the zinc-oxide adhesive or rubber base adhesive. In this form, it is suitable for making a protective paper apron or mask 23, having a spottin of adhesive of two part construction, for painting or lacquerlng operations. A sheeted material, which may be paper or the like, is therefore provided and has attached thereto adjacent the edges 24, along its length,

a strip of tape'21, by adhering the adhesive coating of the strip with a portion 25 proj ecting beyond the edge 24, with the adhesive surface 22 exposed. The promoting port on 25 serves in the nature of a spotting, which may-thereafter be applied to fasten the apron.

or mask wherever desired, the adhesive face 22 included by this spotting or pro ect1ng portion serving as a means for attachment In Figure 5 I' have illustrated the adhesive or coating 26 referred to in my prior applications, and as above suggested as applied as a spotting for a protective paper apron 27.

In the actual practice with adhesives thus far employed by me for the purposes of my present invention, I have thus far had the best results with hide glue, as set forth in the foregoing formula. 0

I have however had results not so sat 1s factory with other adhesives, such as casein, dextrin, starch, blood albumen, and various water-soluble gums, such as acacia, traga' canth, etc.

I have also employed other modifying agents for the purpose of imparting flexibility to the composition. Among these may be mentioned sulphonated castor-oil, which though it may render the product too tenaciously adhesive for use on lacquered, varnished or painted surfaces, is most excellent for use in connection with tapes for closing packages.

I have also employed other sticky substances which are not only more or less adhesive but also more or less hygroscopic, in the production of a non-drying water soluble adhesive or coating. Among these may be mentioned molasses, glucose, honey, and sugar, but thus far I have attained the best results with the composition as hereinabove set forth in the preferred formula.

lVhile l have described my improved adhesive or coating in connection with tape for a particular purpose, it will be appreciated that it has a wide field of utilit for closing packages, for holding display s ieets against sheet glass, and for various uses which may be either temporary, as. hereinabove set forth,

or permanent relatively, as where ordinary gummed tape is now used.

. My im roved adhesive or coating may also be used or applying to various surface designs in color, rangiu from the simplest to the most complex, eit er by using it in the form of a paint or of a piece or pieces of stencilling material, by a method which includes, for example, applying a permanent coating thereabout, washing off the first mentioned coating, applying my improved coating to the second mentioned coating, and then applying a permanent coating to the desired space covered in the first instance by my said coating.

One of the marked advantages of ad esives or coatings forming the subject matter of my present invention is the inertness thereof in respect to acetone, amyl acetate and other solvents of nitro-cellulose, which renders them of peculiar availability in connection with finishing operations wherein nitro-cellulose or compounds of nitro-cellulose and varn shes are employed. As will be observed this invention relates to coated papers and more especially to gummed papers or flexible cellulosic backing materials, cloth and other sheet materials, referred to in the specification'and claims as paper.

Reference is made of my application Serial No. 281,104, now Patent No. 1,760,820, granted May 27, 1930, which is a continuation in part of my prior application aforementioned, Serial N 0, 182,893.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use What I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture a masking strip comprising a sheet of paper of substan tial width and of a length substantially greater than the width provided along one lengthwise edge with a narrow strip of adhesive, said adhesive strip being of such character and width as to firmly adhere to the sheet, and to be successively adhesable to a substantial number of. surfaces to be protected in such manner as to firmly retain the sheet against displacement in its own plane butto be readily withdrawn from such surface by a stripping force applied at an angle to said surface. 2. As a new article of manufacture a masking strip or apron comprising a sheet of paper of substantial width and of a length substantially greater than the width provided along one lengthwise edge with a narrow strip of adhesive, leaving intermediate portions of the apron or mask uncovered, said adhesive strip being of such character and width as to firmly adhere to the sheet, and to be suocessivelyadhesable to a substantial number of surfaces to be protected in such manner as to firmly retain the sheet a ainst displacement in its own plane, but to be readily withdrawn from such surface by a stripping force applied at an angle to said surface.

applying my improved coating,

3. An article of manufacture as described in claim 1 in which the adhesive strip comprises a rpbber base adhesive.

4. As an article of maufacture as described comprising an adhesive coating carried by the edge of the masking or apron andcontaining a water soluble gelatinous material.

7. As an article of manufacture, a masking strip or apron comprising a strip of flexible protective material of substantial width,

provided on one surface thereof with an exposed portion and uncoated portion, the coat-' ed portion comprising an adhesive of such character as to firmly adhere to the sheet, and to be successively adhesable to a substantial number of surfaces to be protected in such 'manner as to firmly retain thesheet against displacement in its own plane, but to be readily Withdrawn from such surface by a stripping force applied at an angle to said surface.

8. An article as in claim 7, the adhesive comprising a rubber base material.

9. As an article of manufacture a masking strip or apron as in claim 7, the adhesive coating comprising a water soluble gelatinous composition.

10? As an article of manufacture a masking strip or apron as in claim 7 the adhesive coatingncomprising a water insoluble adhesive 0 position.

11. As an article of manufacture a masking strip or apron comprising a stripof flexible protective material of substantial width comprising paper and provided along one edge adhesively coated thereto with a narrow strip of adhesive firmly secured thereto exposing a strip of adhesive, said adhesive being successively adhesable.

12. As an article of manufacture a masking strip .or apron as in claim 11, the adhesive comprising a rubber base material.

13. As an article of manufacture a masking strip or apron as in claim 11, the adhesive comprising a water insoluble adhesive coating.

14. As an article of manufacture, a masking strip or apron, as in claim 11, the adhesive coating comprising a water soluble gelatinous adhesive composition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunder signed my name.

RICHARD GURLEY DREW. 

